USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1885-1889 > Part 38
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During the current year the whole insurance will expire upon the Hamilton School Building, one-half of which only, according to the above mentioned vote, will be renewed. That is all which expires during the present year.
HIGHWAYS.
As the last annual meeting the town revoked the action taken in town meeting held March 12, 1883, accepting the provisions of the Public Statutes of the Commonwealth, providing for the election of Road Commissioners, and also voted that the money raised for the repairs of highways and bridges be expended under the direction of the Selectmen.
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In order to carry into effect that vote, and the evident spirit of the town, we appointed Mr. George H. Sweetser. Surveyor of Highways, with the title of Superintendent of Streets, and during the year he has had the immediate and personal supervision of all the work, making weekly reports to the Board, and taking therefrom advice and direction. He brought to the work practical knowledge of road build- ing, skill in the choice and handling of men, and apprecia- tion of the fact that men should earn their money, as well for the town as for individuals. The result is apparent in the improved condition of our streets and sidewalks, and the best commendation that can be made upon the work of the year in this department is an observation and comparison of the condition of our streets one year ago, and the present time. An increase upon the appropriation made at the annual meeting was absolutely demanded, and the same was made at a subsequent meeting, and has been expended in a manner which we confidently believe will stand the test of time and wear.
For the details of expenditures we respectfully refer to the report of the Superintendent, herewith presented. The recommendatious therein contained are all desirable, and are in the line of improvement and, in the end, economy. And it is for the town to say which, if any, it will adopt at this time.
Main street, from the Common to the Town Hall, is in a condition which ought not to be tolerated. Nothing was done upon it this year, because so much was required that what little money might have been diverted from other needed work for that purpose would make scarcely a begin- ning. That portion of the street should be macadamized. To do this would require the expenditure of a larger amount of money than the town would be warranted in levying and collecting in a single year, and we therefore recommend that the same be done the present year, and that the town borrow
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the money therefor, and that the same be assessed in sums not greater than $1,000 and interest, annually. The "fit out" to do this work might cost a larger sum than the town would be willing to invest. In that case it is not improbabile that work might be let out by contract to some person who has the requisite facilities.
Railroad street, from the Upper Station to the Railroad Crossing at the Boston Ice Company's Houses is out of repair, but that portion of it from Yale Avenue to the Cemetery needs immediate attention, and should be put in condition the present year. The sidewalk for that distance should be raised and concreted. That portion of our people who live above the Willows are entitled to better facilities, and there is no reason, in our judgment, why they should not be accommodated the present year.
Pleasant street extension has been completed during the year and open to travel. The land damages were not settled without trials by jury, the parties owning the land claiming their legal rights.
The cost of building this street was $1,770 00
Land damages and expenses connected therewith, 5,400 07
Total cost, $7,170 07
During the year the County Commissioners laid out and ordered to be built before January 1, 1888, a highway run- ning from the Junction of West Chestnut and Prospect streets northerly to Elm street. This order was made so late that it was impracticable to carry it out ; but the work was opened to competition, and let out to the lowest bidder, Mr. Michael O'Connell, for $1400. The County pays the land damages. The work is now. in progress, and the street will be opened to public travel in the early summer. The laying out and building of these streets has very materially enhanced the value of real estate in these localities, and it
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is confidently anticipated that it will increase the valuation of the town very perceptibly.
During the year the Selectmen have laid out Wave avenue and Aborn avenue (formerly Bliss Court) from Main street to Pleasant street, and Cedar Hill avenue from West Chest- nut to Cross street, also an extension of Summer street to Charles street, and will report their proceeding's to the town, at the next annual meeting, for its action thereon.
These ways were laid out by the owners of the land, and practically dedicated to the use of the public, and several valuable houses have been erected upon cach. There seemed to be very good reason why the town should now assume the burden of their care.
During the year the Selectmen have called upon the County Commissioners to relocate Albion street and Church street, which they have done. In the latter case Mr. John Rayner has given to the town quite a strip of his land for the purpose of widening Church street at the westerly end. This, when done, will add materially to the beauty and safety of the street.
ENGINEERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FOREST FIRE
WARDS.
Under the laws of the Commonwealth the Selectmen are required annually to appoint as many Engineers as they may deem expedient, not exceeding twelve, and the law pre- scribes their duty and vests them with authority. That authority has been well understood and exercised in this town for many years.
In 1886 the Legislature passed "An Act for the better protection of forests from fire," which, among other provis- ions, requires the Selectmen annually, in March or April, to appoint one or more persons to be called "Forest Fire Wards," who shall have and exercise the powers and duties of fire- wards prescribed in Chapter 35 of the Public Statutes.
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This gives to them the same authority in relation to fires in woodlands as fire wards have elsewhere, or had over fire in woodlands prior to this Act. It gave them no authority elsewhere. Messrs. Horace W. Dalrymple, Alonzo S. Cobb and Owen Corcoran were appointed Fire Engineers, and Messrs. Rufus Kendrick, Austin L. Mansfield and Benjamin WV. Oliver were appointed Forest Fire Wards, all to serve from May 1, 1887. The authority of the latter is confined to fires in woodlands. In relation to all other fires the authority of the Engineers remains unchanged. At the last annual meeting the Town instructed the Selectmen to offer the same incentive for the suppression of fires in buildings and property that they now offer in reference to forest fires.
This vote has apparently misled one, at least, of the Forest Fire-wards to suppose that they had jurisdiction over fires in buildings, and to authorize him to pay out, to persons ren- dering any assistance in suppressing fires in buildings, the same sums that they were authorized to pay out to persons in their employ, who aided in suppressing fires in woodlands ; and further to pay out these sums to persons who had per- formed the work upon their own motion, and to extinguish fires upon their own property or of their employers ; a con- struction of the law and the authority of the forest fire wards manifestly wrong, and not contemplated by the Legislature or the Town. One of the Forest Fire Wards paid out some of these small sums, honestly believing that he had a right to do so ; and the Selectmen reimbursed him from the funds of the town, giving him notice at the same time that they should not continue the practice. They have made a volu- minous report to the Selectmen covering the time since the first appointment from which we abstract the following :
Forest Fire Wards first appointed June 16, 1886. From that time to April 1, 1887, they were called to seventeen fires, sixteen of which were controlled without other assist- ance. Total expenses of Forest Fire Wards between these
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two dates, $100.87. From April 1, 1887 to March 1, 1888, they report that they have attended twenty, strictly speak- ing, forest fires and nineteen other fires, and that from that number they have had the exclusive control of thirty-five fires, and have been the controlling power of the other four. The total expense reported is $211.40.
They recommend that some arrangement should be devised between them and the Fire Department whereby a small part of the Fire Department might be called out in emergencies of large forest fires ; that some method of alarm should be adopted which should give information whether the fire was in a building or in woodland, and that the town should pur- chase five hundred feet of hose, with proper couplings, to connect with sill cocks and faucets in the buildings along the lines of water pipes, the same to be distributed in one hun- dred feet lengths in the various wards of the town. These are matters for the town to pass upon, and therefore we report them. We refer to the report of the Engineers of the Fire Department for the details of the matters under their. charge.
If the town proposes to continue its present policy of offering incentives for the suppression of fires in buildings, it should designate the officials to have the matter in charge. In pursuance of the vote of the town at its last annual meet- ing the Selectmen contracted with the Wakefield Water Co. for two new hydrants, one to be placed at the corner of Lawrence and Vernon Streets, and the other at the corner of Elm and Winn streets. These contracts were immediately carried out.
STREET LAMPS.
The town is now maintaining 127 street lamps,-63 gas, 42 kerosene and 10 naphtha, being situated in the central part of the town and under the care of Mr. Wm. Leavis. There are 11 oil lamps in Greenwood in charge of Mr. I. F. Shel- don, and one in the East Ward which has not been lighted
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for a number of years until this year. Eleven new lamps have been added, as voted by the town (see pages 22 and 23) . Beyond the expense of these 12 new lamps, the increased cost of this department has been incurred in the amount paid for gas, which has arisen from burning till 12 o'clock instead of 10, and the increased cost of lighting for the same rea- son. The gas bills have been paid this year for 12 months, and the lighting bills for 13 months in place of 11 months, for each, last year. The lamp posts have all been painted at a cost of $46, and new material and fixtures have been put in, so that the plant is now in the very best condition, and can be run the coming year with no extra expense. For itemized account see page 74. Quite a large item in the expense for this department is the cost of gas ($942.45), amounting to $15.25 per light, against $2.50 for naphtha and $2 for oil. If a contract can be made with an electric light company to light the territory now provided with gas lamps, at a small increased cost, we think it would be desira- ble for the town to make such a contract.
CLAIMS.
Since the publication of the last Annual Report the suit of Henfield vs. the Town has been settled by an entry of "Neither Party," that is, neither party recovers anything from the other and each party pays his own costs and. expenses.
During the year four claims have been made against the town for injuries received on account of defects in the high- ways. Mr. S. L. White injured by a fall upon the sidewalk on account of ice. Upon investigation the town was found not liable.
Mr. James Foley injured by tripping and falling over a stone post in the sidewalk, at the junction of Albion and Gould streets. The earth had worn or settled away around this post so that it projected some inches above the surface
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of the sidewalk. The injury was a severe one, and for which the town was unquestionably liable. It was settled upon payment of three hundred dollars taken from the Miscella- neous Fund.
About two years ago John McCarthy and John Fenneran gave notice to the town that they had received injuries from a defect in the highway at the corner of Main and Center streets, and the Selectmen of that year upon investigation reported that in their opinion the parties had no legal claim against the town. Recently both parties have commenced suits which are now pending in the Superior Court of this County and will probably be reached for trial during the spring or summer.
POLICE.
At the beginning of the Municipal year, Charles H. Davis was re-appointed Chief of Police, and has continued to dis- charge the duties of that office to the present time. For the details of the work in that department we refer to his report herewith presented. A state of affairs has existed in the southeasterly part of the town, near the Saugus line, for which neither this town or inhabitants are responsible, which has caused quite a perceptible increase in the expense of this department.
SUPPRESSION OF THE SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR.
The sum of Five Hundred Dollars was raised and appro- priated at the last annual meeting to aid in the suppression of the sale of intoxicating liquor. We instructed the Chief of Police to use his utmost efforts in this direction, and em- ployed Mr. E. A. Upton of this town to aid in the prepara- tion and trial of cases against offenders in Court. The result has been gratifying. The town has never been so free from intemperance. Sixteen cases have been tried, eleven of which have resulted in favor of the government and five in favor of the accused. In two cases the Court has ordered
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the complaints to be placed on file, in one case the offender has absconded and the remainder have suffered the penalty of the law. This appropriation is, in our judgment, a wise one and should be continued.
MATTERS REFERRED TO THE SELECTMEN.
Under the vote of the town, the Selectmen have caused the town pound to be removed, and the westerly portion of the burying ground improved in accordance with the plan heretofore submitted to the town ; upon the expediency of removing the hearse house and fence about the burying ground, the Selectmen preferred to await further develop- ments in the affairs of the town, or a more decided expression of public opinion before making any definite recommendation.
Upon the matter of relaying the drain across the land of John M. Smith, on Elm street, we were during the summer and fall of the opinion that there was no occasion for any action of the town, and we therefore did nothing. Giving the matter careful observation during the rainy season, we have come to the conclusion that it is for the interest of the town in the preservation of the highway to take up and relay the drain across Mr. Smith's land, and recommend that the town raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred Dol- lars therefor. Preparations are being made to rebuild and enlarge the culvert under Greenwood street, and the work will be completed at an early day. Repairing the drain under the So. Reading Branch Railroad, by the B. & M.R.R., is in process of negotiation. The, matter of a drain across Railroad Street. south of the Gas House, which was left to our discretion has been allowed to remain, for the reason that there was no immediate necessity for action, and because the whole street and sidewalk are in a condition which de- mands immediate attention, and the whole work could be done more economically at one time. The drain is unquestionably south of the original water-way. and is liable at any time to
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be stopped up by the owner of the land on to which it carries water.
We believe the various other matters of sidewalk, drains and culverts referred to us have been attended to.
We recommend an appropriation of $3,000 for Miscellane- ous Expenses, and $1,850 for Town House Expenses, being the same amounts voted at the last annual meeting.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
S. K. HAMILTON, S. O. RICHARDSON, GEO. E. RICKER,
Selectmen.
WAKEFIELD, March 10, 1888.
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REPORT
-OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The Superintendent of Streets, who was appointed by the Selectmen, April 14, herewith submits the following report :
At the last annual meeting the sum of $5,000 was appro- priated by the town for general highway purposes. From this amount the sum of $484.32 was taken to pay last year's bills, leaving a balance of $4,515.68.
The condition of some of our streets and bridges was such, -owing largely to the heavy rains during the summer, --- that at a meeting held in September an additional sum of $3,500 was appropriated, a large part of which would come under the head of "Special Appropriation," viz. : for Con- verse street, $328; West Chestnut street, $550; for laying pipes by the side of the Lake, $550; for laying concrete gutters, $500 ; and between five and six hundred dollars was reserved for snow, leaving a balance of about $1,000 for ordinary repairs, thus making in all, for general highway purposes about $5,500.
All the work on the highways has been done under the direction of the Superintendent, who received for his ser- vices $3.00. per day during the busy season, $2.00 per day since November 1st. Laborers were paid $2.00 per day, and since November 1, $1.75 per day, and the same was
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allowed for a horse and cart. The amount paid each person for labor, teams, material, etc., will be found in the financial report. As a large part of the work on most of the streets was done somewhat connectedly, it is impossible to give the exact number of dollars and cents expended on each street, but we give below the approximate amount :
Grading Main street from Salem street to the Beebe estate, $700 for labor ; for gravel, $61.52.
From Railroad crossing to Nahant street, $150.
In Greenwood, $300. Nearly all this money was spent in labor. as the town owned most of the gravel that was used. About $75 was expended on other streets in the district ..
On Sweetser street a solid rock bottom was laid covered with a heavy grade, also a blind drain on the south side of the street, the whole, costing for labor $250, for gravel, $30.52.
Prospect street, at the westerly end, for labor, $150. The gravel was furnished by the town.
Lowell street was graded most of the way from the estate of the late Caleb Green to the Stowell estate in Montrose. For labor, $450 : gravel, $82.96.
On Salem street, commencing at the Montrose school- house, labor $75 ; gravel, $12.35. Also from A. Turnbull's to Main street, gravel was given, labor $75.
On Chestnut street over 600 loads of material were taken from the road bed and utilized for the sidewalks on Albion street, the space filled with stone, and then graded at a cost of $700, $76 of which was for gravel.
Repairing Water street from the Town Hall to the rail- road crossing, $300. Elm street, $40. Vernon street, $40., Pleasant street sidewalk, $25. Park street sidewalk, $25.
A bridge has been rebuilt near Sumner Hopkins' at a cost of $71.
$550 has been spent on West Chestnut street. £ This in- cludes 985 7-9 yds. concrete gutters, costing $354.75.
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On Converse street $328 was spent. All the material used in building this street was given by Mr. Merrill and Dr. Jordan.
Nearly 600 feet of pipe was laid on Main street by the Lake. This, with grates and labor for laying the same, costing $550, thus making thirteen streets where the sum of $25, or upwards, has been expended from the regular appropriation, viz. :
Main street,
$1,761 52
Sweetser street,
280 52
Prospect street,
150 00
Lowell street,
532 96
Salem street,
162 35
Chestnut street,
700 00
Water street,
300 00
Elm street,
40 00
Vernon street,
40 00
West Chestnut street,
550 00
Converse street,
328 00
Pleasant street,
25 00
Park street,
25 00
.
.
From 5 to 10 dollars and upwards has been spent on many of the other roads in town. The road-scraper, which is an indispensable machine, has been used where most needed, but, as the town has nearly fifty miles of road to care for, it is impossible to take a very large portion in one year.
As will be seen by the financial report, special appropria- tions were made for sidewalks on Water street, Valley, Elm, Main in Greenwood, Albion and Railroad streets, sidewalk and road bed on Bennett street, water drain across Albion street, also for straightening Prospect street, and improve- ments on Greenwood street. All the expense on these streets has been kept within the appropriations.
At the annual meeting in April the report of the Road
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Commissioners for laying out a new town way, known as Converse street, was accepted and adopted, and the sum of $350 was voted to meet the expense of the same. In build- ing this street it was found that this appropriation would not put the street in a satisfactory condition, and in a short time a much larger sum would be needed to make it an acceptable street. Accordingly $328 was taken from the September appropriation, and the street has been built in a thorough manner, so that but little will be needed to be done to it for the next twenty-five years. Pleasant street extending to Sweetser street, as ordered by the County Commissioners, has been completed, as is shown in the financial report.
CONCRETE.
.
At the annual meeting in April $1,000 was appropriated for concrete work. The contract was awarded to W. B. Ellis, of Melrose, for 37 cts. per yard for sidewalks and gutters, and 50 cts. for crossings. There has been expended for concrete, as will be seen by the financial report, $2,730.60 ; collected or due from abutters, $818.60 ; showing the amount paid by the town to be $1,912, of which $912 came from the regular Highway Appropriations, as before stated. Sixteen street crossings have been put down. and 1,621 3-4 sq. yds. concrete gutters, costing $912.
GUIDE BOARDS.
The guide boards are all in proper order. 40 new guide- boards and street signs have been added during the year, at an expense of $15.
Eight glass signs have been placed on street lanterns. costing $4.
Attention is called to some of our streets that need special attention the coming year. Main street, in the centre of the town, has needed repairing for some time past ; but, in the
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first place, there is no gravel within a reasonable distance that is suitable to use where there is so much travel, and it is the opinion of competent judges that it would be the cheap- est in the long run to have the portion in the centre macada- mized, which would require a special appropriation. The time has come when it seems to those of good judgment that the town should have a stone-crusher. Albion street, west of the Railroad, is in a very bad condition. It would be policy to use ground stone on such a place as that even if gravel were handy. The cost of stone, per ton, ready to load on the cart, would be, if properly managed, cheaper than gravel. There are many other places near the Centre that should be treated in the same way. Railroad street. nearly the whole length to the Reading line, needs special attention. That portion from Deadman's crossing running south should be partially macadamized.
One great attraction and inducement for people to settle in any town is her well kept streets, and, in connection with the prosperity of Wakefield, as well as in view of the increasing number of streets to be cared for, it becomes the voters of the town to consider the importance of making liberal provision for the improvement of the town in this direction.
On several occasions the attention of the town has been called to the importance of obtaining a stone-crusher. This fact, in connection with the expressed wish of many of our citizens the past year in regard to it, prompted the Select- men to instruct the Superintendent to investigate the matter in order that the town might act understandingly in case the subject should come up at the annual meeting, also the prob- able cost of macadamizing Main street in the centre of the town. After careful investigation it is found that the Farrel and Marsden crusher stands the highest, and is recommend- ed by men' of long experience. The cost, including the engine to run it, delivered amel set up, $2,200. The Steam
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Road Roller which is essential in making a good macada- mized road is now used for repairing all kind of gravel roads, and is considered indispensable wherever used. It is the universal testimony of those who have used the roller for years, that on certain kinds of repairing it will do more work in a day than fifty men, and costing only from three to four dollars to run it.
The use of machinery on road work has several times been urged, and investigation proves that the importance of it has not been overestimated. It is as apparent as in man- ufacturing purposes. The Averill & Porter roller seems to stand ahead of all others. Testimonials from all parts of the country and from foreign countries, which are corrobo- rated by men who have used them, prove that the crusher and roller are the greatest inventions for road work, both as regards economy and durability of work, also the pleasure and comfort of travel. The cost of the Averill & Porter Steam Road Roller is between $5,000 and $6,000.
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